Display package

ABSTRACT

An improved package is provided comprising a semirigid container, a film closure for the container adapted to be vacuum sealed to the container opening, and a relatively stiff paperboard backing member adhesively secured to the film. The backing member includes a tear strip, the removal of which also served to permit removal of the film from the container and thereby provide access to the container&#39;&#39;s contents. Once the strip is removed the container may be reclosed by the relatively stiff backing member.

United States Patent 87F; 206/( Vac Dig.), 46F. 45.34; 99/174 [72] Inventors Elmer L. Kramer; [56] References Cited Donald K. Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio: UNITED STATES PATENTS 2] 1 App No gg 'g 'l 3,127,274 3/l964 Weinke 229/87(F) 9 Filed June 2. 969 3,333,690 8/1967 Marsh .i 229/5l(RC) {45] Patented Feb. 2, 197] Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek 73] Assignee Brown Company Anomey.loseph A. Barbosa New York, N.Y. a corporation of Delaware ABSTRACT: An improved package is provided comprising a [54] g f E semirigid container, a film closure for the container adapted aims to be vacuum sealed to the container opening, and a relatively [52] US. Cl 206/4534, stifi paperboard backing member adhesively secured to the 229/5 l 99/1 74; 206/46 film. The backing member includes a tear strip, the removal of [51] Int. Cl B65d 73/00, which also served to permit removal of the film from the con- 865d 75/00 tainer and thereby provide access to the container's contents. [50] Field of Search 229/5lis, Once the strip is removed the container may be reclosed by the relatively stiff backing member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION cause the contents to eventually spoil, the packages cannot readily be displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum scalable package which includes a reclosable feature and which may readily be displayed.

These and other beneficial objects and advantages are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a package including a shallow tray having a base portion and upwardly extending wall portions forming an enclosure about the base. The upper peripheral edge of the wall portion is provided with a transverse margin extending substantially parallel to the base. A thin film cover sheet is originally heat sealed to the margin and a vacuum drawn into the tray interior. A backing member is adhesively affixed to the film paperboard cover and overhangs one edge of the tray. A tear strip extends from side to side across the backing member. The tear strip is defined between two substantially parallel cut-score lines. The top line also serves as a folding score line along which the overhanging portion of the backing folds, and thebottom score line is positioned above the heat seal of the film and tray. The bottom score line may include upwardly extending portions which, when the tear strip is removed, define a tab. The tab is adapted to be fitted into a slot in the tray margin and thereby provides the reclosable feature of the present package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package in accordance with the present invention, depicting the full tray;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective of the present package;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present package;

FIG. 4 is a fractional plan view of the closing feature of the backing member of the present package; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the proposed package partially opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 wherein the proposed package of the present invention is depicted as including a tray 12 and a backing member 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the tray comprises a base 16 having continuous walls 18 extending upwardly and defining an enclosure about the base. A transverse margin 20 is disposed about the free peripheral edge of the wall. The tray may be formed of any suitable material although a semirigid clear plastic material.

The item to be packed 33, is first placed within the tray confines. A thin, flexible, moisture-impervious film cover 22 preferably made of heat-scalable material such as polyethylene, is then placed over the tray opening and heat sealed along a strip 31 (shown in FIG. 5) placed about the tray periphery upon the margin 20. The meat or other contents 33 is then vacuum packed in a standard fashion. The vacuum packed package is then applied by adhesive to a paperboard backing or backboard 24 which overlays and adheres to the film cover 22. The backboard 24 is of greater length than the vacuum sealed package and is cut scored horizontally at the top along lines 26 and 28 so that the extra length may be folded along upper score line 28 over the top margin 30 of the combined tray and film cover. In this manner, a paperboard display area 25 on the front of the package over the transparent tray is provided while still permitting the contents 33 of the package to be viewed, as shown in FIG. I.

The area between the two horizontal cut-score lines 26 and 28 defines a tear strip 36. The bottom cut-score line 26 will overlaytop margin 30 and be parallel to and slightly below heat seal strip 31, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Thus, tear strip 36 encompasses the heat seal strip 31 on top margin 30. Accordingly, when the tear strip is removed, the film cover 22 may be separated from the tray along heat seal strip 31 before continuing to remove the film cover 22 and the remainder of backboard 24 from the tray 12. Removal of the film cover along the heat seal strip 31 before removal of the remainder of backing 24 prevents excessive tearing and destruction of film cover 22. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, to open the present package, the tear strip 36 is removed. A comer of the film cover 22 is then grasped and may be peeled to first begin to separate from the tray along seal strip 31, and thereafter :to

separate the board 24 to which it is adhered from the tray. The

film is peeled off until the trays contents may be removed. In those instances when the contents are not to be entirely used, the film and backboard are not entirely removed, but are removed only as much as required to give new to the contents, and to permit reclosure.

The reclosable feature of the present invention includes a tab 40 defined by the bottom cut-score line 26 as shown in FIG. 4. A slot 42 provided in the top margin 30 in the area directly underlying the tab 40 as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, when the package is to be reclosed, the tuck tab 42 defined by the lower cut-score line 26 of the tear strip which extends from the remaining portion of the paperboard back is inserted into the slot 42 in the plastic tray. The film cover 22 is of material so flexible as not to require perforation or interfere with the reclosure.

Thus, in accordance with the above the several aforementioned objects may be obtained.

We claim:

1. An improved package comprising: a tray having a base and opposed upwardly extending sidewalls defining an enclosure about said base, margins extending from the free peripheral edges of said walls transverse to the walls and parallel to the base, a film cover sealingly affixed to the tray margins along a continuous seal strip whereby to enable the vacuum packing of commodities within said tray and film cover, and a paperboard backing adhesively affixed to said film cover, said backing having a tear strip defined by first and second-cut score lines overlying one of said wall margins.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which the portion of said seal strip along the aforesaid one of said wall margins lies between said first and second-cut score lines.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion of said backing folds along said first-cut score line over the edge of the aforesaid one of said wall margins, providing a printable display area on the underside of said wall margins.

4. The invention in accordance with claim I wherein said package further includes means for reclosing said package after said tear strip has been removed and the package opened.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein said reclosing means includes a tab defined by said second-cut score line and a slot disposed in said wall margin directly underlying said tab. 

1. An improved package comprising: a tray having a base and opposed upwardly extending sidewalls defining an enclosure about said base, margins extending from the free peripheral edges of said walls transverse to the walls and parallel to the base, a film cover sealingly affixed to the tray margins along a continuous seal strip whereby to enable the vacuum packing of commodities within said tray and film cover, and a paperboard backing adhesively affixed to said film cover, said backing having a tear strip defined by first and second-cut score lines overlying one of said wall margins.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which the portion of said seal strip along the aforesaid one of said wall margins lies between said first and second-cut score lines.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion of said backing folds along said first-cut score line over the edge of the aforesaid one of said wall margins, providing a printable display aRea on the underside of said wall margins.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said package further includes means for reclosing said package after said tear strip has been removed and the package opened.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein said reclosing means includes a tab defined by said second-cut score line and a slot disposed in said wall margin directly underlying said tab. 